Neighbourly support to be recognised

CARE: Sue Tennent (left), Hope Sexton and Featherston Community Board chairwoman Lee Carter promote Neighbourhood Support groups.PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Carterton neighbourhood support groups will be thanked on Sunday for the work they are doing in their community, in a Neighbours Day presentation at the events centre.

The evening has been organised by community development manager Lorraine Gittings and Neighbourhood Support organiser Sue Tennent. It is designed to thank everyone from community volunteers to information centre staff.

Deputy Mayor John Booth works alongside Mrs Tennent with neighbourhood support projects. He is hoping to get funding for the community patrol group to buy a high-tech vehicle, allowing the volunteers to do their work safely.

He said at the moment the group used its own vehicles to patrol specific areas where crimes were being reported.

"Their observations have led to many successful solutions," Mr Booth said. "The police are so busy dealing with the big stuff, if we can help with the small stuff where we can then that's good."

Mrs Tennent said Carterton people cared for their neighbours. There were 25 neighbourhood support groups, involving more than 290 homes. She said she co-ordinated meetings and then mostly left it to individual support groups to establish their own meetings and rounds.

A major concern for the community had been several burglaries at the south end of Carterton. A neighbourhood support group had helped police catch some of the culprits.

"A support group of dog walkers saw suspicious circumstances and were diligent in ringing the police. They got the car's registration and everything. The police responded immediately and the offenders were apprehended." Mrs Tennent said.

But the support groups were not all about crime - Mrs Tennent said they were also concerned with civil events and how the town would react in an emergency.

After the earthquake east of Eketahuna in January a support group responded with young people going to check on elderly neighbours. "They ran to every house."

Coming from an education background, Mrs Tennent said she didn't know what to expect in her new role but had been "very impressed with the service and involvement from the police".

The neighbourhood presentation evening will start at 4pm on Sunday at the Carterton Events Centre.